Running-gear for vehicles



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-'-Sheet 1.

' TI GI RUNNING GEAR FOR VEHIGLES.

Patented Feb. 4, 189.6.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2;

(No Model.)

T. q. MANDT. RUNNING GEAR FOR VEHICLES.

Patented Feb. 4, 1896.

AN DREW B.GRAHAM, PnoTo-urnuwAsl-H (No Model.) 3 Sheets Sheet 3.

T. G. MAN'DT. RUNNING GEAR FOR- VEHIGLES No} 553,864 Patented Feb. 4, 1896.

AN DREW BLRAHAM, FHOTO-LI'IHQWASHINGTON. D.C

UN iTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

TARGE G. MANDT, OF STOUGHTON, ASSIGNOR TO JOHN A. JOHNSON, OF

. MADISON, WISCONSIN.

RUNNING-GEAR FOR VEHICLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 553,864, dated February 4, 1896. A lication fil d March 18, 1895. Serial No. 541,606. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, TARGE G. MANDT, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Stoughton, in the county of Dane and State of lVisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Running-Gear for Vehicles; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the under side of the front axle of a Wagon and the running-gear appertaining thereto, illustrating my improvement on the same. Fig. 2 is a detail view, in perspective, of one of the improved thill-couplings forming part of the same, with its key and key retainer, showing the former in its operative position in the coupling. Fig. 3 is a similar view of the same parts, but showing the cross-bar uncoupled and the key withdrawn from the coupling. Fig. at is a side elevation of the coupling with thekey in its operative position therein. Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view through the coupling on the vertical plane indicated by the broken line marked $00111 Fig. 4:. Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view of the front axle and bolster on the vertical plane denoted by the broken line marked y y in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is an inverted detail View, in perspective, of one end of the curved metal hound and its seat for the ends of the front axle. Fig. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of the extreme end of the metal hound, with its thill-coupling plate; and Fig. 9 is a detail view of this thillcoupling plate removed from the metal hound in conjunction or combination with which it forms the coupling.

Like letters of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures.

This invention has relation to the runninggear of wagons and other light vehicles, and has for its objects to lighten and simplify the construction of the same, and at the same time increase the strength and durability of the parts which are subjected to the greatest strain.

IVith these objects in view my invention consists in a novel and peculiar construction of the curved metallic hound appertaining to the front axle and its bolster, in the seat formed near opposite ends of said hound for the ends of the front axle, and in the novel and improved construction and combination of parts of the couplings whereby the thills and cross-bar are connected to the projecting ends of the metal hound, all as will be hereinafter more fully and at length described, and particularly pointed out in the claim.

On the accompanying three sheets of drawings, the reference-letter A denotes the front axle of a wagon and B the front bolster or box-bearing, which is located immediately over and in alignment with the axle A, but separated from it by the ends of the curved metal hound O, which project forwardly in front of axle A, forming two parallel arms or extensions O O, one on each side.

The hound O is made of angle iron or steel,

as may be deemed preferable, and is curved into a semicircle which extends back of the front axle and bolster, as usual. Near each end this semicircular bow is bent slightly in an upward direction, so as to form a sloping offset 0 between the bow O and its straight parallel projecting ends or extensions O C, said extensions 0 O projecting between the front axle A and bolster I3, as will appear more clearly on reference to Fig. 6, and at this point, on each side, an axle-seat D is riveted to the vertical web or flange of the hound by means of the seat-plate flange D. This seat D is simply a flat plate of suitable size, bent at right angles D D, the horizontal part D, which forms the seat for the axle, having its ends turned down at right angles so as to form parallel side flanges d d, which overlap the top of the axle on opposite sides, and, in conj unction with the clip E, effectually prevent displacement of the hound O O and seat D D with reference to the axle and bolster.

The clip E (there being, of course, one of these clips on each side) straddles the bolster B and axle A, and is inserted with the ends of its two limbs through adepending bracket F, which is riveted or bolted to the horizontal horizontal lower end of bracket F and the under side of the steel-reinforced or compound axle A (reinforced by the steel rod a embedded into its under side) is placed a saddleplate G, which has a central recess g to receive the projecting part of the reinforcingrod a, the limbs of the axle-clip E passing through apertures at both ends of plate G, which coincide with corresponding apertures in bracket F. The clip-nuts e e are screwed home tight, so as to draw the parts firmly together and bind the lower end of bracket F and the intermediate saddle-plate G up tight against the under side of the axle, which will draw the ends of axle "A up into the seats D D and interlock the projecting ends or arms 0- (3 of the hound'firmlyand rigidly between the-axle and its superimposed bolster.

To the under side of each of the forwardlya ling may be effected in a moment simplyby inserting-thekey J j :and giving itahalf-turn, so as to lock itsarm or fingel piecej-betwecn projecting arms 0 is riveteda plate or casting: H, (shownin detailin Figs. 5,8,:and 9,) one side of which. impingesagainst the'contiguous' depending web or. flange, while said plate on the opposite side is provided with a depending. ear H, having an aperture,

which registers with. a corresponding aperture 71 in 'theopposite depending side flange. To the outside of the depending ear H is fastened a-hook-shaped combined. guide and-retainer I, of such shape andsize that it encircles the aperture h on the outside, said combined guide andrretainer forming a semicircle around the lower side of the apcrtureancha short distance therefrom.

' The inner ends ofthethills K K aremortised into the cross-bar L, and connected to :said

cross-barby corner-braces M=M, one oneach The brace-straps M are extended-back side. of the cross-bar and bent to form loops or slcevesN'N,whichwillfit in the space between the depending web or side flanges of arm 0 and the depending ear H, so as toregister or coincide with the sideapertures 71, and h. 'lhe parts being in this position (illustrated inFigs; 1, 2, 4,: and 5) a key J is inserted through the aperture h, coupling loop or sleeve N and aperture 71, after which this key is locked in place and prevented from slipping out by turning its right-angled arm or fingei piece j down into the narrow slot or space L between the curved guide or retainer I and the adjacent side of the apertured ear .the slot i, in which position key J can be readily withdrawn through the curved recess or bend in the retainer.

It will be observed that this is a direct coupling, connecting the thills and cross-bar to the coupling-arms O C and thus relievin g the axle A of undue strain, as all the strain comes upon said arms Cr O i and 55118 11011110; 0 of which they form a part. After the parts are placedin theirproper: juxtapositionthe coupthe ear II and retainingeguide. I, .andsimilarly, 'by simply reversing this motion 0f the key, it may be withdrawn and thepartsdisconnected or-uncoupled in a momentof time and without the 'use ofwrenches'or tools oi claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates- The combination with the. axle A, bolster B, hound O ofanglermetal lhavingforwardlyextending parallel arms 0, 0'', provided with flanged aXle-seatsD, D,-bracket= F, saddleplate Gr, and clips E, having nuts 6, e, ofthe plates H, having apertured ears H, and curved guide or retainer I, the thills, the coupling-shacklesvN, and the keys J, having; a right-angled arm or finger-piece j,-substantially as described.

- In testimony that I claim. the foregoing as my own I have hereunto affixcd nay-signature inpresence of two witnesses.

TA-RGE G. I MANDT. lVitn esses:

BEN. E. WAIT, A. O. ERIoKsoN. 

